The Irish standard., 1887-07-02
THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION.


before it is too late.
THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION.
The Egyptian question is again be-
ginning to absorb the attention of Eu-
ropean Powers. although it was posi-
lively announced short time ago that
it was settled in a manner satisfactory
to all concerned. But the way matters
are settled nowadays among Euro
pean, Asiatic and African nations can
scarcely ever be considered as effectual
and final; therefore, we are not the
least bit surprised to learn by cable.
gram from London that the exact shape
of Egyptian affairs is dificultto to define.
Nothing but chaos could be expected to
result from the organized system of
plundering by which the land of the
Pharaohs, the Caesars and the Caliphs
have suffered for many years.
OF course England will never con-
sent to withdraw her army of occupa-
tion and rapine until her bloatcd bond.
holders get paid three hundredfold for
the money they have invested in the
country; not but what all the Euro
pean nations interested have extorted
from the Egyptian government in ex-
orbitant interest and overpaid officials,
who represent the bondholders, more
than treble the amount of the original
investments. 1t was this that brought
about the Egyptian war of 1882, when
Alexandria, the once proud seat of
art and learning, was leveled in the
dust.
The following figures, taken from a
paper presented in the British House of
Commons in 1882, may surprise many
people. At that date, the paper said,
there were 1925 foreigners in the ser
vice of Egypt, who cost the Egyptian
Government 2373,74 per annum. This
sum would pay the interest of e9,O00,-
600 of debt, and it is an enormous
amount to extort from that small coun-
try for the services of officials, many of
whom were only of moderate qualifica-
tions, and who were imposed upon
Egypt against her will. The Italians
were the most numerous, then followed
the French, and the English came next.
But the English had the pre-eminence
in the pay, their averate rate being
e460 per annum, about 0ne-f0urth
higher than the French rate, which was
$3.50 per annum, and considerably more
than twice as high as the Italian rate,
which was 22O7 yer annum. When the
joint control was abolished it was re-
placed by Financial Adviser, with a
salary of $4,000 per annum, and an Of
flee costing as much more-in all e6 800
per annum. OF course this official, an
Englishman. by the way, was placed
there in the interests of the European
bondholders, but the Egyptians bad to
pay dearly for the luxury.
1t is not matter of much surprise
that Arab Pasha, who was in every
sense of the word patriot, should
have taken up arms against the manner
in which foreigners bled his country.
At the present time it seems that the
old adage, 'swhen rogues fall out, hon.
est men get their dues,' is going to be
verified. Turkey is jealous of the sue
cessful manner in which England has
bled Egypt, and it also looks now that
if England persists in maintaining her
present attitude towards Egypt, she
may count upon having to fight France
sooner or later. England's presence in
Egypt has exercised no salutary in
huence on the people. but, on the con-
trary, the condition Of the Fellaheen is
growing worse.